Some residents of Portland's upscale NorthShore neighborhood have
objected to part of Exxon-Mobil's plan to build a liquefied natural gas
terminal.

Their problem isn't the LNG terminal, they say, but the plan to
offset the environmental impact.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the public comment
period to Aug. 29 for the proposed permit application, in response to
complaints by residents that they weren't aware of the comment period
and needed more time.

Fred Anthamatten, chief policy analysis section for the regulatory
branch, said the agency has received about 30 comment letters, e-mails
and faxes, including some from residents that the mitigation plan could
affect aesthetics, property values and mosquito levels in their nearby
golf course and neighborhood.

ExxonMobil's permit application mitigation plan outlines a proposal
"to build a rock-lined berm, and fill in the area behind the berm to
create wetlands, a shallow water area, and seagrass habitat," according
to the agency-issued public notice.

The elevated bay bottom would begin about 300 feet from the
coastline and stretch 800 feet out for about 4,000 feet. It is expected
to promote sea grass colonization.

The mitigation work is compensation for aquatic and the building of
the company's Vista del Sol LNG terminal. The site is near NorthShore
subdivisions in Portland.

Daryl Genzer, general manager of the NorthShore Country Club, which
has about 650 members, said he wrote a letter last weekend to oppose
the mitigation plan.

Because the plan affects the coastline and adjacent golf course, he
said, it could cause property values to decrease and deter development
on other available lots.

Genzer said more than 450 homes in this area range in value from
$250,000 to $2 million.

One of the subdivision's residents, Myra Morris, said she joined
neighbors' and coworkers' objections because she worried it would turn
the nearby scenic bay coastline into a mosquito-ridden swamp.

"It could also smell like it does when you have low tide and still
water," said Morris, a Portland native and long-time resident of the
neighborhood. "If it was further out, it might not have as much
effect."

ExxonMobil spokesperson L.A. D'Eramo said in an e-mail that the
company would evaluate and address concerns after the end of the
comment period. Portland city officials could not be reached for
comment.